Fwd: Graduate Position: MississippiStateU.EvolutionaryGeneticsSunflowers

[Hao Wu]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <evo...@evol.biology.mcmaster.ca>
Date: Wed, Oct 12, 2011 at 3:22 AM
Subject: Graduate Position: MississippiStateU.EvolutionaryGeneticsSunflowers
To: echo...@gmail.com



The Welch Lab at Mississippi State University is looking for
graduatestudents to work on two distinct projects. I am interested in
recruiting bothMS and PhD students that would like to pursue a degree in
Biological Sciences.(1) We are currently studying adaptive evolution at
the level of geneexpression in sunflowers. Specifically, we are trying
to understand the rolethat transcribed microsatellites may play in
generating adaptive variation. Ourapproach combines population genetics,
quantitative genetics, and functionalgenomics. We have also recently
initiated collaborative work that is allowingus to study gene expression
variation at microsatellite encoding loci at theinterspecific level (2) We
also study the population genetics of Caribbeaniguanas. Students will be
able to choose between applied conservation geneticsresearch projects as
well as more basic research projects focused on theevolutionary dynamics
of natural populations. Island populations of iguanas areparticularly
useful for these types of studies because gene flow betweenislands is
typically low, and population sizes vary providing naturalreplicates
for study. This research is facilitated by extensive collaborationwith
leading conservation biologists in the field. Participants in
the Welchlab will primarily be asked to conduct molecular genetic
analyses. However,fieldwork is highly encouraged. Four students working
on iguanas have alreadyconducted extensive work in the Turks and Caicos
and the Bahamas. Funding forstudents will initially be provided by means
of teaching assistantships withthe potential for research assistantships
dependent on the availability ofexternal funding. We are looking for
students to start at any point in 2012.Please contact Mark Welch at
welchATbiologyDOTmsstateDOTedu if you areinterested. Also, a CV that
includes information regarding prior educationincluding coursework and
grades would be appreciated. For more informationabout the Welch Lab,
please visit http://web.me.com/mark.e.welch/Site/Welcome.html.


Mark Welch <we...@biology.msstate.edu>

--
Hao Wu

Phone: 334-498-2831
Mailing Address: 301 Funchess Hall, Auburn University, AL, 36849, USA